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SMITH COUNTY, MS

JERNIGAN, JOHNIKEN, JOHNIKIN, JARNIGEN, JOURNIGAN

In the 1830's a group of settlers from North and South Carolina began a journey south across Georgia, Alabama and into south central Mississippi. They settled in what is now known as Smith County. The trip took about eight or nine years and ended in 1839.

One of these families was the Jernigans. Stephen and Keziah Jernigan settled near the W. Tallahala Creek south and east of Sylvarena in the deep woods about three quarters of a mile southwest of Mt. Nebo. All their six children were born in route in NC, SC and GA. Their Children were Harris, Elizabeth, Suzanna, Rosada, Lucy Ann, and Francis M. They were the first Jernigan family in Smith County and there are descendants still living in the county today. They are buried in Mt. Nebo, Mt. Zion and Clear Creek cemeteries.

Their children married as follows: Harris to Effie Blackwell (Jasper County)(Richard Johnston's Great Grandmother), Elizabeth to Jacob Blakeney, Susanna to Josiah (J. G.) Blackwell(Effie’s brother), Rosada to ??? Benison, Lucy Ann to Alvin Blakeney, and Francis M. to Arrena Ainsworth McNeal. Harris might have gone to the Civil War and did not return. Josiah (J. G.) Blackwell was killed while returning home from the war. Alvin did return and he and Lucy Ann moved to Arkansas where she died. Francis returned from the war and moved to just north of Taylorsville, just west of the Leaf River. The present Jernigans in Smith County area are descendants of Francis M. Jernigan.

Click Jasper and Smith County maps by Richard Johnston at right and near bottom of page for larger view. Note map to right: This photo depicts the Dykes, Effie and Levi Johnikin and Alfred Ishee properties.Note the Welborn cemetery, which we worked in October, just below the Dykes tract. Note map below by Richard Johnston the Harris and Stephen Jernigan, Josiah Blackwell properties.

Harris and Effie had two children, Frances(f) and Colen D.(m) Jernigan. Apparently Colen D. died. Effie and Frances moved across the Jasper County line near where she was raised, and became reacquainted with Wash Johnston and were possibly married??? This couple had two children, William Thomas (Richard Johnsston's Grandfather) and Albert Gallatin Johnston (Virginia Johnston Ratliff's great grandfather).

Effie and Wash parted and then she had three more sons, who bore the name of Johniken, Johnikin. They were Burket Laster, Levi C. and Alonzo. The father is unknown Jernigan, Johniken.

Frances Johniken married Alfred Ishee and remained in Jasper County. Many descendants of this Ishee family still live in Jasper County.

Susanna Jermigan Blackwell then married John Gunter.

Effie’s children, Jernigans, Johnikens, Johnstons left Mississippi and moved to Louisiana. There were many of the families of the Jasper, Jones, and Smith Counties that settled in what was called "Mississippi Settlement" about 18 miles south of Mansfield, La., in DeSoto Parish.

The name Jernigan has been changed, mostly due to mispronunciation and then transcribed into other names. Most of the folks pronounce it Johnigan. Our family stayed with the Johniken name and continue to spell it this way today. There are other ways of spelling this name, creating difficulty with family genealogy. From the original Stephen Jernigan family are many descendants, Jernigan, Blackwell, Blakeney, Benison, and Ishee who remained in Smith, Jasper and Jones counties. Johnikens and Johnstons lived in North Louisiana and East Texas.

MS Jernigans report submitted by:
Virginia Johnston Ratcliff, Oak Grove, LA.
Richard F Johnston, Shreveport, LA.
- November 21, 2002

This report edited by rankinotes without change to its genealogical value.

Look at this Jernigan Site
Another Jernigan Site - A wealth of Information